Auxiliary modals time-related expressions in Chinese

The Chinese language has a vast gamut of auxiliary modals and it isn’t at all rare to find characters that can be translated in the same way but possess shades of meaning and context and slightly different ways of use.

To fully master the Chinese language it is good to examine it in detail, even if at times, when speaking about a language, it’s best not to think about things too much and let the words flow freely from our mouth.

The possibilities

Auxiliary modals, placed to the left of the verb, modify the meaning. Auxiliary modals are characters that express: to be able to, to want, to have intentions to, to have to, to need.

会 (huì) “to be able to”

It expresses the possibility that something will take place; it also expresses a capacity or acquired ability (something that you know how to do or learned to do). To conclude, it can serve as an indicator of the future.

Need and to have to

要 (yào) “to have to”

It expresses a need; also expresses an inevitable condition.

我妈妈要去超市买东西。
Wǒ māma yào qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi.
My mom has to go to the supermarket to buy some things.

做人要诚实，做事要负责，学习要认真。
Zuòrén yào chéngshí, zuòshì yào fùzé, xuéxí yào rènzhēn.
When you deal with other people, you have to be honest; when you handle assignments you have to be responsible; when you study, you have to be diligent.

过马路的时候，要记得先看两边有车。
Guò mǎlù de shí hou, yào jìde xiān kàn liǎng biān yǒu chē.
When you cross the street, you must first remember to look both ways for cars.

About Armando Turturici

Born in Italy in 1992, he graduated in Chinese and English Language from the University fo Enna Kore, in 2014. Currently he's Professor of Chinese Mandarin in Caltanissetta, while he also keeps studying Japanese and Classic Chinese at University of Torino.